|
|
Allegations of Abuse
in Institutions |
|
The first of the eight
complainants began her evidence yesterday, telling the court how Gainsford
disappeared from the home after she told another girl what he had been doing
to her. She told the court how he would check
her for appendicitis -- checking her stomach and then her genital area and
digitally penetrating her. He would stop when she complained it hurt. It
wasn't until years later that she found out her appendix was not near her
genitals. There were times when Gainsford
was on duty at night, that she felt unwell. He would take her to a room and
get into bed with her. Twice he raped her although at the time she did not
even know what rape was. She spoke to other girls at the
home about the things Gainsford did to her. One said it was wrong and told a
staff member The staff member told the girls
not to make up such stories, but at the same time Gainsford disappeared and
she never saw him at the home again. Asked why initially she had told
police of the indecencies but not the rape allegations, the woman said it had
taken her a long time to come to terms with the fact that Gainsford had raped
her. The trial before Justice Fogarty
and a jury of three men and nine women, continues today.
|
